Late Sep – early Oct
Cannstatter Volksfest (Wasen)
Stuttgart
Stuttgart's answer to Oktoberfest, with rides, beer tents and food stalls.
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Engineering heartland between the Black Forest and Lake Constance
Home of Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, SAP and thousands of family-owned "hidden champions". For a GJU engineering or business student this is internship country: hundreds of mid-sized manufacturers sit within an hour of every campus. Life is green and orderly, with the Black Forest, the Swabian Jura and the Neckar valley all on your regional ticket.
18 host universities
Study in Baden-Württemberg
Each guide has campus videos, the GJU entry conditions, local prices and housing links.
BW · 73430Aalen University (HS Aalen)
Aalen · Baden-Württemberg
Extra tuition fees apply
Open guide 
BW · 72458Albstadt-Sigmaringen University · Albstadt
Albstadt · Baden-Württemberg
German B1GPA > 75%
Open guide 
BW · 72488Albstadt-Sigmaringen University · Sigmaringen
Sigmaringen · Baden-Württemberg
German B1GPA > 75%
Open guide 
BW · 88400Biberach University (HBC)
Biberach · Baden-Württemberg
GPA > 70%
Open guide 
BW · 89518DHBW · Heidenheim
Heidenheim · Baden-Württemberg
No extra conditions listed
Open guide 
BW · 78054DHBW · Villingen-Schwenningen
Villingen-Schwenningen · Baden-Württemberg
No extra conditions listed
Open guide 
BW · 97980DHBW Mosbach · Campus Bad Mergentheim
Bad Mergentheim · Baden-Württemberg
No extra conditions listed
Open guide 
BW · 78054Furtwangen University · Villingen-Schwenningen
Villingen-Schwenningen · Baden-Württemberg
GPA > 65%
Open guide 
BW · 74081Heilbronn University · Campus Heilbronn
Heilbronn · Baden-Württemberg
about €350 (winter)
Open guide 
BW · 74081Heilbronn University · Campus Sontheim
Heilbronn · Baden-Württemberg
about €350 (winter)
Open guide 
BW · 70174HFT Stuttgart
Stuttgart · Baden-Württemberg
No extra conditions listed
Open guide 
BW · 72622HfWU Nürtingen-Geislingen
Nürtingen · Baden-Württemberg
German B1
Open guide 
BW · 68163Hochschule Mannheim
Mannheim · Baden-Württemberg
German B2GPA > 76%
Open guide 
BW · 77652Hochschule Offenburg
Offenburg · Baden-Württemberg
German B1
Open guide 
BW · 76131Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Karlsruhe · Baden-Württemberg
No extra conditions listed
Open guide 
BW · 72762Reutlingen University
Reutlingen · Baden-Württemberg
German B2GPA > 65%
Open guide 
BW · 89075TH Ulm
Ulm · Baden-Württemberg
German B1
Open guide 
BW · 70174University of Stuttgart
Stuttgart · Baden-Württemberg
No extra conditions listed
Open guide Watch
Baden-Württemberg on video
Travel guides, city walks and campus tours for every host city in Baden-Württemberg.
Calendar
Festivals & events worth your weekend
Most are free to enter. With your semester ticket, getting there on regional trains costs nothing.
Late Nov – 23 Dec
Stuttgart Christmas Market
Stuttgart
One of the oldest and biggest Christmas markets in Germany.
Feb (carnival week)
Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet
Rottweil, Villingen-Schwenningen
Wooden masks and centuries-old carnival parades.
July
Das Fest
Karlsruhe
A big open-air music festival.
July
Ulm Schwörmontag
Ulm
A river parade of home-made boats on the Danube.
Every city
Christmas markets
From late November, every town square in Germany fills with stalls, lights and roasted almonds. Look for halal crêpes and children's punch (non-alcoholic).
Explore
Things to do
Nature
Black Forest
Hiking, the Triberg waterfalls and Feldberg (1,493 m) for snow in winter.
City
Heidelberg
Germany's oldest university town, castle ruins above the Neckar river.
Lake
Lake Constance (Bodensee)
Germany, Austria and Switzerland around one lake. Visit Mainau flower island and Meersburg.
Museum
Mercedes-Benz & Porsche museums
Two of the best car museums in the world, both in Stuttgart.
Castle
Hohenzollern Castle
A fairy-tale castle on a hilltop near Hechingen.
City
Ulm Minster
The tallest church tower in the world (161.5 m). Climb all 768 steps.
Prices
What things cost in Baden-Württemberg
Rent changes most from city to city; everyday prices follow it a little. Pick a city to adjust the whole table.
*Estimate*Estimated cost. Prices are subject to change. Everyday prices are estimated ranges; fixed official fees are shown at their exact 2026 rate.
*Estimate*Estimated cost. Prices are subject to change. Everyday prices are estimated ranges; fixed official fees are shown at their exact 2026 rate.
| Item | Price in Stuttgart | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees & paperwork | ||
| Semester fee | €280–420 / semester | Set by each university and includes the €226.80 Deutschlandsemesterticket. Hochschule Schmalkalden: €331.80 for winter 2026/27. |
| Blocked account payout | €992 / month | Official 2026 amount for study visas: €11,904 for 12 months. Providers charge a one-off fee. |
| Public health insurance | €141.16 / month | TK student rate for 2026, under 23. From 23 without children: €146.29. Other public insurers differ by a few euros. |
| Visa (national D visa) | €75 once | Paid at the German embassy in Amman. |
| Residence permit | €100 once | First permit at the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde). Extending it by more than 3 months costs €93. |
| Broadcast fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) | €18.36 / month | Per flat, split among flatmates: €6.12 each with three. |
| Biometric photos | €11–16.50 once | Photo booth or drugstore (dm, Rossmann). |
| Housing extras | ||
| Deposit (Kaution) | €300–1,500 once | Dorms usually a few hundred euros; private flats up to 3 months of cold rent. |
| Home internet | €11–35 / month | Dorm LAN is sometimes extra, or split a WG contract. |
| Furniture & kitchen basics | €55–220 once | Kleinanzeigen, IKEA, leftovers from outgoing students. |
| Bedding & towels | €45–90 once | IKEA, Primark, TK Maxx. |
| Household liability insurance | €3.50–6.50 / month | Haftpflicht: cheap and strongly recommended. |
| Food & groceries | ||
| Groceries | €165–255 / month | Cooking at home, shopping at Aldi, Lidl, Netto, Penny and Kaufland. |
| Mensa main meal | €2.80–5.50 / meal | Student price with your student card. |
| Bread rolls (Brötchen) | €0.40–0.90 / piece | Supermarket rolls are cheaper than bakery ones. |
| Halal chicken (1 kg) | €7.50–12 / kg | Turkish or Arabic supermarkets. |
| Rice (1 kg) | €1.70–3.50 / kg | Basmati costs more. |
| Hummus / tahini jar | €2.20–4.50 / jar | Arabic shops and big supermarkets. |
| Milk (1 L) | €1.10–1.40 / litre | |
| Eggs (10) | €2.80–4 / pack | |
| Eating out & drinks | ||
| Döner / falafel | €7.50–10 / meal | The student staple. |
| Pizza in a restaurant | €10–15.50 / meal | |
| Restaurant main course | €14.50–24 / meal | |
| Shawarma plate | €11–16.50 / meal | Arabic restaurants in bigger cities. |
| Coffee / cappuccino | €2.80–5 / cup | Cheaper in the Mensa café. |
| Soft drink / juice in a café | €3.50–5 / glass | |
| Water bottle (supermarket) | €0.30–0.90 / bottle | Plus a small deposit you get back. Tap water is safe to drink. |
| Ice cream scoop | €2–2.80 / scoop | |
| Transport | ||
| Regional trains & buses, all Germany | €0 extra | The Deutschlandsemesterticket is part of the semester fee at almost every host university: €226.80 a semester (€37.80 a month) from winter 2026/27. |
| Deutschlandticket (no semester ticket) | €63 / month | Only if your university has no semester ticket. Monthly subscription, cancel any month. |
| My BahnCard 25 (under 27) | €39.90 / year | 25% off ICE and IC tickets, 2nd class. Cancel at least 6 weeks before the year ends, or it renews. |
| ICE / IC long-distance train | €18–80 / trip | Book early for Sparpreis tickets. |
| FlixBus to big cities | €10–35 / trip | |
| Used bike | €90–220 once | Kleinanzeigen or university bike markets. Buy a good lock. |
| E-scooter ride | €3.50–6.50 / ride | Lime, Tier and Voi in bigger cities. |
| Taxi (5 km) | €16.50–24 / ride | |
| Flight to Amman (return) | €220–480 / return | From Frankfurt, Berlin or Munich. Book 2–3 months ahead. |
| Services & phone | ||
| Prepaid SIM with data | €8–15 / month | Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect, Congstar, Fraenk. |
| Bank account | €0–6 / month | Online banks (N26, DKB, C24) are usually free. |
| Haircut | €16.50–27.50 / cut | Barbers are often cheaper. |
| Laundry (dorm machine) | €1.70–3.50 / wash | |
| Printing (per page) | €0.05–0.10 / page | University printers with your student card. |
| Doctor visit | €0 / visit | Covered by public health insurance. Bring your card. |
| Prescription medicine | €5–10 / item | Co-payment set by law: 10% of the price, at least €5 and at most €10 per item. |
| Gyms & sport | ||
| University sports courses | €0–30 / semester | Football, volleyball, climbing, fitness: often free or almost free. |
| Budget gym (McFit, FitX, clever fit) | €22–40 / month | Check the contract length and sign-up fee. |
| Public swimming pool | €3.50–6.50 / entry | Student discount with ID. |
| Climbing / bouldering hall | €11–16.50 / entry | |
| Football boots / sports gear | €35–90 once | Decathlon is the budget choice. |
| Fun & activities | ||
| Cinema | €9–14.50 / ticket | Cheaper on discount days (often Tue or Wed). |
| Museum | €4.50–11 / entry | Student prices with ID; many museums are free on certain days. |
| Castle / palace visit | €5.50–16.50 / entry | |
| Bundesliga football ticket | €16.50–50 / ticket | Standing tickets are cheapest. Book early. |
| Escape room / bowling | €13–27.50 / person | |
| Student party entry | €3.50–11 / entry | |
| Christmas market snack | €3.50–6.50 / item | Roasted almonds, crêpes, children's punch. |
| Weekend trip (hostel + food) | €65–165 / trip | Travel is free on regional trains with your ticket. |
| Clothes & seasonal | ||
| Winter jacket | €65–165 once | You will need it from November to March. |
| Winter boots | €45–110 once | Waterproof. Snow and slush are common. |
| Rain jacket / umbrella | €16.50–65 once | |
| Toiletries & drugstore | €27.50–45 / month | dm and Rossmann. |
Housing
Dorms and trusted housing sites
Student dorms run by the Studierendenwerk are the cheapest option and include bills. Apply the day applications open.
Official student housing
Studierendenwerke in Baden-Württemberg
Studierendenwerk StuttgartServes Stuttgart, Esslingen, LudwigsburgStudierendenwerk KarlsruheServes Karlsruhe, PforzheimStudierendenwerk UlmServes Ulm, Aalen, Biberach, Heidenheim, Neu-Ulm areaStudierendenwerk HeidelbergServes Heidelberg, Heilbronn, Mosbach / Bad MergentheimStudierendenwerk MannheimServes MannheimStudierendenwerk Tübingen-HohenheimServes Reutlingen, Nürtingen, Albstadt-SigmaringenStudierendenwerk FreiburgServes Offenburg, Furtwangen, Villingen-Schwenningen
Search by city
WG rooms and private flats
WG-GesuchtMost usedThe main shared-flat portal in Germany. Turn on email alerts and message fast.KleinanzeigenClassifieds for rooms, sublets, bikes and cheap furniture.ImmoScout24The largest listing site for flats. Landlords often ask for a SCHUFA credit report.ImmoweltThe second big listing site for flats.Studenten-WG.deStudent-only room listings.WG-Suche.deA smaller WG portal, worth checking in smaller towns.HousingAnywherePayment protectionBook a room from Amman with payment protection. Prices are higher; few listings in small towns.
Quick dorm search for each host city
Avoid scams. Never send a deposit before you have seen the room in person or on a live video call. A "landlord abroad" who will post you the keys is always a scam. More housing advice
Internship semester
Internships in Baden-Württemberg
Employers in Baden-Württemberg that take interns in engineering, business and computer science. Click a company to search its current openings.
Bosch
Stuttgart / Gerlingen
Automotive, industrial tech and research campus in Renningen.
Engineering
Mercedes-Benz
Stuttgart
Car development and production around Stuttgart and Sindelfingen.
Engineering
Porsche
Stuttgart / Weissach
Sports-car R&D centre in Weissach.
Engineering
Carl Zeiss
Oberkochen (near Aalen)
Optics and semiconductor equipment.
Engineering
Voith
Heidenheim
Hydropower, paper machines and drive technology.
Engineering
Festo
Esslingen
Automation and pneumatics.
Engineering
Trumpf
Ditzingen
Machine tools and industrial lasers.
Engineering
Schwarz Group (Lidl, Kaufland)
Neckarsulm (near Heilbronn)
Retail, logistics and purchasing.
Business
Würth
Künzelsau
Global trade in assembly and fastening products.
Business
dm-drogerie markt
Karlsruhe
Retail, marketing and supply chain.
Business
EnBW
Karlsruhe
Energy company: controlling, projects and trading.
Business
SAP
Walldorf
Europe's largest software company, with a huge intern programme.
Computer Science
Schwarz Digits / STACKIT
Neckarsulm
Cloud, IT and cyber security for the Schwarz Group.
Computer Science
IBM R&D Germany
Böblingen
Mainframe, cloud and AI development lab.
Computer Science
Vector Informatik
Stuttgart
Software and tools for automotive electronics.
Computer Science
Career fairs
- Usually Oct–Dec and Apr–JunKIT Career Fair & bonding Karlsruhe / StuttgartKarlsruhe, Stuttgart
- Each semester (dates vary by city)bonding company fairsAachen, Berlin, Bochum, Braunschweig, Dresden, Erlangen, Hamburg, Kaiserslautern, Karlsruhe, Magdeburg, Munich, StuttgartFree student-run engineering and IT fairs.
- All yearVDI Recruiting TagMany citiesEngineering recruiting days by the Association of German Engineers.
- Usually once or twice a yearYour host university's FirmenkontaktmesseOn campusAlmost every university runs its own company fair. Ask the career service on day one.
Cultural survival map
Halal food, mosques & airports
Find halal butchers, Turkish and Arab supermarkets and mosques in each host city, plus the budget airports nearby.
Nearest budget airports
- STRStuttgart FlightsEurowingsMain airport; S-Bahn from Stuttgart
- FKBKarlsruhe/Baden-Baden FlightsRyanairWizz AirBudget flights; shuttle bus from Baden-Baden station
- FMMMemmingen FlightsRyanairWizz AirBudget airport about 1 h from Ulm
- BSLEuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse FlightseasyJetWizz AirClose to Offenburg and Furtwangen
Your Deutschlandsemesterticket covers the regional trains to most of these airports. What the ticket covers
Daily life
Living in Baden-Württemberg
Getting around
Regional networks such as VVS (Stuttgart), KVV (Karlsruhe) and DING (Ulm). The bwegt app shows trains statewide.
Weather
Mild summers, cold and foggy winters. Snow is common in the Black Forest and the Swabian Jura.
Halal food & community
Stuttgart, Mannheim, Karlsruhe and Heilbronn have large Turkish and Arab communities with halal butchers, Arabic bakeries and many mosques. In small campus towns, plan a monthly shopping trip to the nearest big city.
Local food to try
Maultaschen (Swabian ravioli) · Käsespätzle · Brezeln · Black Forest cake · Flammkuchen in Baden
Tip from past students
BW universities are among the best connected to industry. Use your first semester to apply for an internship at the companies around your campus.
Next region
Bavaria
